Real Mum, Real Love, Real Mess

No Excuses

2011-12-20T21:14:00.000+13:00

No excuses for why I haven't posted in so long. I just didn't. Even with running around after my (now) 21-month old little man, I still had time at the end of most days, and I just kept putting it off.

But as my mum reminds me at least once a month that I haven't posted in ages, well it is about time I did!

Riley is 21 months old now, this will be his 2nd Christmas. We decided last year (before his first christmas) that we will not get him lots of things. We will get him a couple of good quality things (This year is a Fisher Price Ride-to-Roll Scooter that starts as a buggy. He should get a few years out of it). A kids 'CD' player (It looks like a CD player, with buttons like a tape deck and it has these weird plastic discs instead of CDs). And a kids laptop that he can begin using for the sounds, buttons and music, and move onto learning letters and numbers etc.

And that is it. Oh and a pair of togs because OHs parents are getting him a paddling pool.

To me, Christmas is about spending time with family. Yeah pressies are cool, but to be honest, I much prefer spending the day with my family. We do have to split our time between OHs family and my family, and we are still trying to figure out a good balance because neither of us want to give up our tried and true family gatherings. At the same time, we don't want Riley to miss out on either set of grandparents. And I am not having it at our house every year! Once every couple is enough lol.

Have been sewing and crocheting it up, even made myself a new dress and top! (Believe it!)

Wow!

2011-06-18T23:32:00.000+12:00

Wow! Has it really been THAT long since I last post?! That's a bit shameful! Done now though, not much I can do about it now except post again!

So what has been happening on my side of the screen? Well my gorgeous boy isn't a baby anymore! He is a 15 month old little boy. Has been running for months now, has 16 teeth (and is cutting more as I type). He is speaking a few words and understands so much of what we say. He loves puzzles and reading. He often brings me books and just likes to sit on my lap and point to the words while I read. He has a huge personality and knows exactly what he wants. He is still a mumma's boy though! Will get a picture tomorrow.

As for me? Well I have been spending the last few months running around after R, sewing, crafting and setting up my website. Which I am quite excited about to be honest! Can be found here. Also I have lost 14cm around my tummy and butt! Proud of that too. Just came out of a plaster cast on my arm this week. Fell over the baby gate. Woops!! My website has been my new baby but never meant it to replace this! Well I am back now and will update more regularly.

Have been going to a fortnightly craft group with my mum and some friends and we are currently creating a mystery quilt. Oooh exciting. So will have a photo of that when we are done. Will be my first one but I already love quilting! Also teaching myself to crochet. Not doing toooooo badly, but we will see.

It is now 11.30pm and I am in desperate need of some sleep. But I am tied to my sewing machine all day tomorrow so thought I would post this now.

Hope your 2011 is going great!

Christchruch Earthquake

2011-02-24T09:55:00.000+13:00

So I am sure most the world has now heard about the Christchurch Earthquake that happened at 12.51pm on Tuesday 22nd Feb. Down here is Dunedin there was no damage, however it was felt. Christchurch is a good 4-5 hour drive away. Our roof was creaking, bookshelf was rocking and the house was swaying. I can only imagine how horrible it must have been for all those people who not only experienced it but for whatever reason, haven't yet been reunited with their families.

Myself and some friends have started a page on facebook calling for handmade goods do be donated. These will be auctioned on a NZ auction site - TradeMe - where all proceeds will be donated to the earthquake appeals.

If you are interested in donating something handmade.. please pop over to our page for details. Handmade for Christchurch. So far we have even had offers of items to be donated from as far as the USA. We feel so blessed that there are so many people out there willing to help out in any way they can. Auctions will be starting in the coming week. Will update with auction links as they happen.

A huge THANK-YOU to everyone for their support. Even just spreading the word helps. Link/Shout Out on your page, donate, send to a friend, bid on an auction.

Felt... Like Something Different

2011-01-31T08:16:00.000+13:00

I am loving Felt! I love all the New Zealand handmade gorgeous goodies!

Some of my favourites this week -

Honey and Spice - amazing handmade soaps, lotions, body butters, oils, lip balms and more. I have completely converted from my liquid body wash to her soap bars. I hate soap. I hate that it dries out.... BUT, this soap doesn't. It's fantastic! Currently in the bathroom is her peppermint cream soap bar, chocolate fudge soap bar ready to go. Lavendar and Patchouli bath/massage oil for Riley (which mixes into the water - does not sit on top) and her choc mint lip balm in my handbag. She uses all natural ingredients and as few ingredients as possible. When you read the ingredients - you actually have heard of them and know what they are!

Swanwear - 1950's inspired swimwear. Gorgeous and flattering! I can't wait to be able to afford a pair of her vintage deliciousness.

Will Make for Change - Oh my word! Look at those oragami tea cups! I want all 7 of them! And the songbird teacup on the next page?! Starting my day having a cuppa out of one of those would just brighten my morning.

Exter - Now I don't want to get into a habit of linking one specific item - so have linked the whole store... However - sneak a peak at her polished brass envelope locket necklace. You open the envelope, and there is a little polished brass note that says 'I Love You'. Will be showing this to my man ;)

Branching Out

2011-01-24T16:03:00.000+13:00

So my mum enjoys quilting, stitchery and crossstitch. I, on the other hand, get half way through a bookmark crossstitch border and give up. But I love the look of quilted blankets and think that stitchery is (a bit faster) and looks really nice, so I am giving it a go. I started at the end of 2009 while still pregnant. But then we moved and it ended up in the bottom of a box.

Have started going to craft night each fortnight with mum and her friends, so decided to dig it out and keep going.

It is a christmas theme so I should have enough time to finish it! =

Will take a picture tomorrow when my camera is charged for a bit of an 'as-I-go' montage. Even Rocky had a montage!

A New Pair of Jammies

2011-01-21T17:44:00.000+13:00

Just for Riley.

The pattern I had I didn't use because there isnt enough room in my sewing room to cut out patterns and large fabric pieces. so I have to do it in the living room - however out kitten deicded it would be fun to try and eat the pattern. So I just had to wing it. There is actually only 2 things I would alter next time... The width of the arms and legs, and the way the neck sits.

Turned out quite well I thought! and the fabric is so cute!

What To Do On A Cold Day?

2011-01-21T08:51:00.001+13:00

Curl up and go back to bed. (dreaming!)

But failing that, I think today is the day to make my boy some new feety pyjamas! Have had the pattern for a little while now (a few months) and just bought some fabric on the weekend. So its on like Donkey Kong! Wow I miss Donkey Kong. Was such a great game! Even still have a Super Nintendo. That takes me back!

Anyway will post a pic when I'm done = Have some adorable fabric!

Facebook 300 Likes Giveaway

2011-01-20T19:22:00.002+13:00

So the powers that be have decreed that a giveaway involving tags is a step too far.

HOWEVER... Facebook allows giveaways on a seperate website and to advertise it on my Facebook page...

So here we go.

This is what is up for grabs.
Wallet with 6 credit card slots, money/notes slot and a coin pocket. Poly resin snap shut with 2 snap options (for when you win lotto and stuff your wallet full of cash ;) hehe)

Open to New Zealand and Australian residents only (sorry!).

To enter - simply leave a comment on this blog post. random.org will select a winner on February 1st.

Thanks for putting up with me!

What I Have Been Working On

2011-01-07T18:54:00.000+13:00

Chocolate And Candy ...

onechemon

NZD40.00

Angry Fish - Change ...

onechemon

NZD12.00

Flower Garden - Chan...

onechemon

NZD12.00

Are The Biscuits? Or Muffins?

2010-12-10T20:19:00.000+13:00

They are biscuits. But I cooked them in mini muffin trays.

These are vanilla and white chocolate biscuits.... but I added in some dark choc chips just because =

The Groovy Gripper

2010-12-10T13:03:00.000+13:00

Have you ever been over to Kiwi Mummy Blogs? There are a huge range of wonderful Kiwi mums blogging away about family, friends, kids, craft, food and everything else in between. I am on their blog roll and was fortunate enough to be able to write a review for the Groovy Gripper.

The amount of times I have had to pick up rusks and fruit chunks walking around a store - I had given up taking them out with us.

Then, this arrived by courier to my doorstep. As I took it out of the box and marvelled at the genius behind such a product, I couldnt wait to get out and try it.

I even went to the grocery store (instead of buying them online) only so I could go out and show it off. (I spend less when I shop online, and trying to time it around Riley's feeds and naps was getting a bit rough)

Popped a rusk in, clipped it to the bottom of his shirt and started to push him round the store in the trolley. He dropped it once, but it did not land on the floor! He even managed to pull it up by the strap and get it himself (clever boy!). To say I was happy is an understatement.

He ate the entire rusk and did not make a noise the entire trip (he likes to squeal and show his excitement that he is at the supermarket.... and he is a grabby boy - if its within reach, its on the floor).

Even started talking to a lovely lady in the store about it and we exchanged numbers for a coffee.

Have not used the spoon or fork attachments yet as we do baby-led-weaning. But as soon as he has more hand-spoon-mouth control, we will be using it for him to have his yoghurt.

Easily rinsed/washed under the tap and there is no chance of the rusk going anywhere!

There is only one thing I am 'not a fan of' (for lack of a better term) and that is that Riley ate the whole rusk.... then I couldn't get the stub out! Had to use a knife to break it up to get it out... but honestly... the pros outweigh the con 10 fold. 100 fold. the con just doesn't matter.

Highly highly highly recommended. 9.8/10!

Vegemite and Cheese Pinwheels

2010-12-07T22:00:00.001+13:00

I like to call these 'Pinwheels' because everytime I hear 'scrolls' I think of those scone scrolls....

So here are my vegemite and cheese pinwheels.

Ingredients:
Puff pastry
Vegemite
Grated cheese

Lay out the puff pastry on a flat surface. (if frozen, wait until thawed) then spread Vegemite (or Marmite) over the pastry, making sure to get close to the edge)

Create a line of grated cheese about 1-2 inches from the edge (this will be the centre of the pinwheels), againmaking sure it is across the whole sheet of pastry, our to the sides.

Sprinkle a little over the rest of the sheet (Helps keep it together better and just tastes great)

Roll as tight as possible. Mark out in 12 (half, third the halves, half the thirds) then cut. This creates 12 pinwheels. I dont put anymore than this on a flat tray as they can puff up and join together.

And how do they fare in this house?

Looking pretty good! =

These are great hot or cold. Can store in an airtight container and these keep well for 2 days.

CousCous Salad

2010-12-06T21:00:00.001+13:00

Great for Christmas day..... Makes a large salad for not much money...

Ingredients:

1 box CousCous (I use San Remo. I wouldn't recommened Israeli couscous as it doesnt hold the dressing or other ingredients as well, but not saying you can't!)
4-6 Chorizos (from the deli)
Mint (we use ours fresh from our pot plant)
1-2 Red onions (size and preference dependant)
Balsamic Vinegar (i have never tried balsamic vinegarette dressing, but worth a shot!)

Cook couscous in plain water (no spices, seasonings, butter etc)
Place into a bowl and glad wrap the top - chill overnight in the fridge.
In the morning, chop up the chorizos, onion and mint, and stir into the couscous.
Pour over balsamic vinegar to taste. I like alot and making the salad with the whole box, I can easily use 1/4 cup of vinegar!

Stir it all up and eat same day.

MIA

2010-12-05T20:57:00.000+13:00

It has been all go at our house! One Cheeky Monkey is taking off, to the point where I have actually had to recruit some help and my friend is setting up a website for me.

Riley is climbing on everything and is almost standing by himself. He is currently sick (poor little man) and is ready to cut his 7th, 8th and 9th teeth.....

Yes... he is 9 months old and already has 6 teeth!!!

Almost at Christmas and have been shopping and sewing and getting ready. Both mine and Dave's families are big on the Christmas Day get-together, so we have offered our house as the central 'everyone-for-lunch-and-pressies' place as it is easier for us to make sure Riley naps properly when we arent going between 3 different houses.

Have figured out how to 'queue' up posts like a timer so will be able to post more regularly now. Have a few recipes and tutorials coming your way soon!

The Christmas Rush

2010-11-16T09:01:00.000+13:00

Have been flat out sewing toys for One Cheeky Monkey and hoarding fabric =

Was my dad's 50th yesterday! Went round to mum and dad's for dinner and my nan gave me some pretty vintage curtain type fabric which would be great for bags or wallets.

My 22nd on the 18th! That came around quick!

And even quicker than that... Riley has 5 teeth and is crawling!

Will update more soon =

One Cheeky Monkey

2010-10-31T20:53:00.000+13:00

Been flat out with designing and sewing kids toys recently and selling them on Facebook. Can go check them out here. Have a stuffed elephant designed and made by me and have just finished designing a giraffe =

Porcupine Meatballs

2010-10-17T19:12:00.000+13:00

I remember having these as a kid and man they were good!!!

Serve on spaghetti pasta. Kids love 'em!

Mince
Half cooked rice. (still needs a little crunch so that it doesn't fall apart when you mix it up
Bolognase sauce (make your own or buy a jar)
Grated Apple/s (size, amount of mince taken into account)
Grated Carrot
Mixed Herbs
Tomato Sauce
Soy Sauce
Egg (1 per 300-400gm ish of mince.... 1kg mince = 3 eggs)
Spaghetti pasta

(pre-cook rice for about 8 mins in a microwave rice cooker. I dont own one of those fancy electric ones. I dont like them lol. so just cook it without it going soft)

Put mince, mostly-cooked rice, herbs, tomato sauce, soy sauce, egg/s, apple, carrot in bowl. Mix (with your hands! It's fun!!!). Mould into meatballs. If they are flaky and falling apart, try adding some flour to the mince mix. (1/4-1/3 cup for 1kg mince APPROX) Cook in bolognase sauce like normal meatballs.

Serve over spaghetti.

Soooo good!!!

I Love My Man

2010-10-16T18:33:00.000+13:00

This morning I woke up to his phone alarm going off at 7.15 (even though it wasn't a weekday which was a little strange). Riley was talking to himself in his cot waiting for mum to get up. Dave wasn't there. I got out of bed, got Riley out of his cot and went out to the lounge room. Dave was in the kitchen doing the dishes. And he did 2 loads of laundry and hung it out. And he cooked me breakfast. And he changed Riley's nappy twice and put him down for both of his naps (10am and 1pm).

Was so happy! He must be banking the brownie points because he is out at a stag do at the moment. Bowling, paintball and drinking. After this morning I am more than happy to let him sleep in until 10am when I put Riley down for his nap ;-)

Some dips for Xmas

2010-10-15T13:25:00.001+13:00

2 of my favourite dips ever.

Guacamole (everyone has their own variation... but I love this one. Learnt from my mum who I'm guessing learnt from her mum? Anyway Riley loves it as I can see by his face covered in it and the big grin on his face)

In a food processor (or maybe even make with a stick blender?) place
2-3 avocados (depending on size and number of people)
2 shallots (cut off the roots and about 2 inches from the dark green tips and dispose. chop the section into roughly 3 inch sections to get the in the processor easier)
1-3 garlic cloves (depending on size and how garlicky you like it)
1-2 pinches cayenne pepper (depending on spice factor. start low and just add more if you want it. You can put more in, you can't take it out)
5-15 drops of pure lemon juice (or just squeeze a lemon wedge over)

Process until smooth.

If you do add too much cayenne pepper... it can be evened out with more lemon juice and an extra 1/2 shallot. Once blended to smooth, taste a bit (or the crackers you are serving with it) then add what needs to be added.

Serve with a mix of crackers, poppadoms, grilled pita bread, pieces of bread stick, salami, vege sticks, pretzels and Camembert or Brie

Cream Cheese & Honey with Pistachios

In a food processor...

1x tub of cream cheese (depending on how many people depends on the size)
1-2 tbsps of liquid honey (depending on size of tub. for a 250g tub I start with 1 tbsp then just add more if I need it. Depends on my mood lol)

Blend together until completely mixed.

1/3 - 1/2 cup of shelled pistachios. (Place in a tea towel once shelled and break with a meat mallet or rolling pin until chunky bits are made)

Either make the cheese/honey mix into a cheese ball and roll through the pistachio pieces or place into a bowl and fold through the pistachios.

Super yum!!!

Serve with a selection of crackers, grilled pita bread and pieces of bread stick.

Mars Bar Slice Bites

2010-10-13T19:17:00.000+13:00

75g butter
4x (standard size) Mars bars (or a "Fun Size 12 pack")
Approx 4 cups of Rice bubbles.

Melt butter and Mars bars together (make sure the nougat is mixed evenly through)

Remove from heat and stir through rice bubbles.

Place spoonfuls into mini muffins trays and refridgerate until set.

Enjoy!!!

Official Starting Weigh In

2010-10-11T13:59:00.000+13:00

Check out The Zumba Diaries and join in! Would love to see how you go!

Getting my hands dirty

2010-10-09T19:40:00.002+13:00

How many times did you mother tell you not to play with your food?

Did she ever tell you how much fun it was to get your hands into a bowl of mince?

It has been over 10 years since I last (remember) having meatloaf, and oh it was fun to make!

What makes a good meatloaf? I don't know but mine tasted pretty good!!

1kg mince
2 grated apples
1 grated (large) carrot
1 grated (large) potato
3/4-1 cup plain flour
1/4-1/2 cup grated cheese
soy sauce
tomato sauce
mixed herbs
chives
salt
3 eggs

(Variations...)
Add a roll of sausage meat.
Try pork mince instead of beef mince
Add some diced bacon or shredded ham

Riley loved it though and ate a whole slice.

And for dessert?

Ever heard of 5 minute chocolate mud cake?

2 tablespoons cocoa
4 tablespoons sugar
4 tablespoons flour
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
Dash of vanilla essence
(add some choc chips for a more decadent cake. think brownie status!)

Place all dry ingredients inside an average mug and stir.
Add the egg and whisk / mix well.
Add milk and oil gradually, stirring.
Add vanilla essence.
Cook on high in microwave for 3 minutes.
Eat from the mug, or run a knife around the edge to slide out onto a plate.

Doing it BLW Style

2010-10-08T17:55:00.000+13:00

Who has heard of BLW? (a.k.a Baby Led Weaning) The general idea that if babies are ready for solids, then they can eat soilds and shouldn't have to have it pureed. Now, I am NOT saying that this is for everyone. In fact I'm not even saying that you should think about it if its not for you. People have been pureeing food for their babies for hundreds of years... but what did they do before pureeing was possible?

I'm a firm believer in Baby Led Weaning, but I am not going to get on my soap box and start preaching about it. Everyone has their own opinions and as long as it works for you, why should I care? But Riley is mine and Dave's child and this is about our experience.

Riley LOVES getting his hands on a chunk of banana, a whole snack size cucumber or some peach slices and his favourite food is a vegemite sandwich. We started soilds ealier than the "recommended" age, but he was showing us the 'signs' that he was ready to move on from his liquid diet. As we chose to formula feed (if you missed that post you can check it out here) I was able to see just how much he was feeding on formula.

During the week before we started him on solids, he was taking in as much as 1400mL (1.4L) of formula during a day. (the recommened amount for his age at the time was about 1000mL) so this equated to 2 extra bottles and he never seemed full afterwards. He was trying to grab everything we ate and was trying to eat everything he could get his hands on.

I had been thinking, discussing and researching Baby Led Weaning since I was about 5 month pregnant with Riley and it just made sense to us. Riley eats (essentially) what we eat and he loves nothing more than to feed himself. As I sit here typing this, he is chewing on a snack cucumber and he has gotten so good at biting, chewing and swallowing.

Its no messier than puree (especially when they try to spoon feed themselves) and its so rewarding to see him try new flavours on his own. If he doesn't like something, he won't eat it. (He can tell the difference between pumpkin and carrot just by looking at them. Love carrot. Hates pumpkin. Just like his mum!) When he is full, he stops eating. (It normally ends up being thrown on the floor)

I love not having to spend time cutting, cooking, mashing/blending, mixing, sorting, freezing, defrosting and spoon feeding Riley, when I can just make myself a fruit salad for lunch, and give him a chunk of my apple. Or just make an extra sandwich. Do you have any idea how much nicer it is to eat as a family instead of feeding baby, then feeding yourself? Do you have any idea how much nicer it is to go out for lunch, and be able to buy your baby a half sandwich and let them eat while you eat? Or even buy a baby-friendly lunch and let them get into it with you.

If you are almost at the beginning-solids stage and have ever had this pass through your mind as a fleeting thought... I highly highly recommend at least looking into it a little more. If its not your thing, then its not a problem! If it is, give it a go, you can always go back to puree!

Banana - His first food. Eaten off my thumb because it was too slippery for him. This is the closest to puree we ever got with Riley. Even then it was small chunks on my thumb.

Broccoli

Mummy's chin

Shaved ham

Cruskit (Crispbread)

Carrot, Potato and Pumpkin that he didn't eat

His favourite - Vegemite sandwich

Peach slices

Homegrown

2010-10-05T15:36:00.002+13:00

Nothing like fresh veges direct from your garden! As Dunedin is so incredibly *blurgh* over winter, not knowing if it is going to rain, hail, snow, be foggy or nice and sunny, it is incredibly hard for a novice gardener such as myself to grow anything.

But come Spring... that's a whole different story! Planter box #1 was done today with carrot seeds, when they germinate and sprout we will transfer them to the garden. Planter box #2... I wanted to experiment with onion as I had one in the back of the pantry i had forgotten about and has started to sprout new roots so I took all the good layers and chopped them up for the slow cooker (Waste not.. want not!) and planted the core of the onion in planter box 2 last week. I was curious how it was going so I did a little digging and its sprouting!!

We also have a mini plastic hothouse specifically for germination and sprouting, so Will be working on some lettuce and other spring/summer veges.

Laughter: The Best Medicine

2010-10-04T16:20:00.003+13:00

I was heavily pregnant with Riley over the summer... Due in March, I had a big baby belly from Christmas time... Every night was spent in bed with the sheets kicked off and my fan on high (I even had a remote for my fan!!)... Was too hot to sleep and that on top of reflux and kicks made for not alot of deep sleep.

Isn't it amazing how your body just gets used to it and you can function on alot less sleep than you ever planned on.

Isn't it amazing how after months of this (and the newborn sleepless nights) you can function [reasonably] well on as little as 4 hours of 'sleep'. (I have been really lucky that Rileys has been sleeping through since about 2 months old, but I still wake up during the night to roll over... I don't move in my sleep!)

Isn't it amazing, how when you have a great sleep right through... you wake up with a headache and you feel even more tired than normal?

And what may be the cure to this? I hear you ask... Pretending to eat your childs feet just to hear the squeal with excitement. (Ok the squealing.. not so much, but the laughter is contagious!)

The Zumba Diaries

2010-10-04T16:14:00.001+13:00

Check my pages (under my photo) to follow my Zumba weight loss diary. Weekly follow up photos and the occassional complaint about the biscuit I wont let myself have or about how I'm sick of peeing all the time from all the water I'm drinking.

Mum, Love, Mess

2010-10-03T11:24:00.003+13:00

Real Mum = Sitting on the couch in my dressing gown blogging, feeling like I'm ready to puke, Riley is asleep and Dave is doing the dishes.

Real Love = Spending the morning blowing raspberries on Rileys bare tummy just to hear him laugh

Real Mess = Baby Led Weaning and carpet don't mix ;-)

Camo Pants

2010-10-02T17:06:00.003+13:00

Well as Riley gets bigger, his clothes are running out lol. He is growing too long too fast! Anyway I got on the sewing machine today and made him some blue camo pants. (Dave was really excited!)

Super easy pants and with no pattern.

If anyone wants some quick instructions let me know and I will make another pair and take pics.

They turned out really well!

How slack am I?

2010-09-28T15:25:00.003+13:00

Haven't posted in ages! Hmmm well my little man (now 6 1/2 months old!!!) has just cut his 2nd tooth this morning. Started a business page on FaceBook. (my other blog is here) borrowed my mums spare sewing machine and have been going nuts with the sewing before she wants it back to sell. (May buy it off her yet). but I have just made a reversible sunhat for my little man (pics below) and have also made a reversible baby sling and 2 single sided baby slings. Made him toys (pics below) and am going to make a sleeping bag for him this arfternoon out of a thick cotton blanket that is pretty much useless because he plays himself to sleep (winds down) and he is never under his blankets so I've given up and am just going to make a couple of sleeping sacks and he can roll around to his hearts content.

He is rolling across the lounge room, trying to get onto his kness, can almost sit by himself, tries to pull himself to standing (and is far too good at it!) has his very own sippy cup (its really cool! 4-way convertible cup!) that he can use quite precisley (and hates water unless he can do it himself with his sippy cup). Is fantastic at eating his own food (like he was from day one) and his favourite thing ever is a vegemite sandwich. Is trying to talk (well thats what I tell myself lol) and still loves bath time.

I will endeavour to keep this up-to-date a bit better. Maybe even document my tales of Zumba hehe.

My New Favourite Pic

2010-08-27T17:00:00.001+12:00

Ohk so today we had a funeral to go to :( But while waiting for Dave to get home from work to pick Riley and I up, we got out the camera and took a few pics, hey, just because! Don't need a reason to take some pictures!

Anyway, Riley thought it was funny so I was trying to get a pic of him and I grinning at the same time, and I managed to snap this.... it is my new favourite photo, just love it :)

The messy fun begins!

2010-08-06T16:55:00.002+12:00

Well my little boy is not so little anymore and has started solids. Banana to be precise. I'm a big believer in baby-led-weaning so always have to change his clothes afterwards. But I love watching him learn to put the food in his mouth!!! It has been going a few places it shouldn't (like up his nose!!) but he has been pretty good and hasn't gotten much on the floor to be honest. Just his face and clothes and chair lol.

Trying something else this week. Has done 6 days with banana, so on the 1st week anniversary of his beginning solids, might treat him to something else... maybe some apple. Stay tuned :)

Pic here of him in his highchair. He looks so tiny in it! It's packed with 2 blankets to keep him in the middle, and I now just have him sitting up with me and I hand him the banana coz he looks too little for his highchair!

Hmmmm

2010-07-29T18:27:00.002+12:00

Ohk so the photo a day didn't happen as I first planned it. Actually on that note neither did my blog lol. A little too long between posts but there isn't much to update when the whole famly is sick. The walking dead shall we say? Poor little man has been so blocked up for ages and Dave and I kinda pass it back and forth between us, so either exhausted from a cold, or exhausted from looking after Dave and Riley with their colds. Please winter be over?! Haven't even had snow yet!!! What's going on? Better not snow in November again. That was weird.

Where, oh where, has my cam cable gone?

2010-07-08T16:22:00.001+12:00

Oh there it is in the couch...?! So there is actually a theme for the week that I didn't realise until yesterday, so for my first emotion photo of the week... I give you... The Stunned Mullet...

Followed closely today by... Excuse Me?!

I give you... The Boy of Many Faces

Oh books! How I miss you!

2010-07-06T21:15:00.001+12:00

Todays photo of the day was simple one. My empty bookcase - I still have 4 more boxes of books to add and im only onto my 2nd book since having Riley. Although I am not surprised...

Monday's photo is full of flames.

2010-07-05T17:52:00.002+12:00

This morning while Riley was sleeping, I was trying to think about what i shoudl take a pic of today. and the more I thought about it, the more a warm picture on a cold day seemed like a brilliant idea. So on that note... whats warmer than fire?

Saturday on Sunday

2010-07-04T20:02:00.002+12:00

Didn't get to post my photo of the day yesterday. Not much time as it was my mum's birthday and we all went out. Anyway... photo of the day for Saturday...

and todays pic

Friday Five

2010-07-02T22:04:00.002+12:00

Well with the Photo a Day - we have the Friday Five. Nominated pics that everyone takes and you can compare :-)

Today was

1. A Self Photo

2. Your Favourite Place

3. Your Favourite Colour

4. Your Favourite Item of clothing

5. Your Favourite Household Appliance

So... in order...

A Self Photo

2. A Favourite Place - (The deck of our house before Riley wakes up)

3. A Favourite Colour (From our bedroom wall)

4. A favourite item of clothing (High waisted skirt)

5. A favourite household appliance (My slow cooker)

A new photo coming tomorrow. Potentially of some muffins. Mmmmm muffins.

A photo a day keeps the time-lapse away.

2010-07-01T17:57:00.004+12:00

A lovely lady on OHbaby! forums has started a group for July, "A photo a day" which I have joined to make sure I don't lag on baby photo's ;-) Will post them in here aswell just because I can. To be perfectly honest with you though... today is the first day of the group (funnily enough with it being the 1st July) and I forgot to take a photo until just now. Yeah yeah terrible I know. But I am determined to do this every day.

The only rules are that it has to be done everyday. The general understanding is that its something that inspires you... So for my 1st picture I have taken a picture of my son and I playing under his playgym together

Excited Much?

2010-07-01T10:11:00.002+12:00

OMG yay! How exciting!!!! MJ from MJs Digital Creationz has accepted me on to her CT!!!

Also until the 6th July, you have a chance to win her newest kit With This Ring. Just leave a comment on her post and she will randomly pick one person who will win this free-of-charge!

He Sleeps... Therefore, I Hobby...

2010-06-29T15:09:00.001+12:00

Well my only real hobbies before have been beading/jewellery design or reading. Since having been pregnant my hobbies have been complaining about sore joints and sitting in front of the fan. Since having Riley, my hobbies have been singing silly songs in a horrible singing voice, trawling TradeMe and baby stores for cute baby things, paper scrapbooking and having coffee with other mums. Now that Riley has figured out how to sleep in predictable amounts, I have been "siggie making" and digital scrapbooking... and I love it!

No longer do I look longingly at my favourite bits and pieces and settle for second best so I don't use the good ones. No longer do I look at a completed page and think to myself "well to be honest that's pretty crap" because by the miracle of an "Undo" button and a copy and paste, all that has changed!

In fact... I am a Designer in Training on 2 siggie making websites... Simply Siggies which can be found here and Little Monster Designs which can be found at this link. Not only that... but I have been asked to join a CT (creative team).

Claire of Tink Designs. (My layouts can be found on the forum)

Would also like to mention MJs Digital Creationz where I made a couple of Layouts using her first for-sale kit "Perfect Moment" which can be found at Sunflower Scraps Boutique

What A Weekend!!!

2010-06-29T11:59:00.002+12:00

Had one of my most exciting weekends, and here I am on Tuesday morning finally writing about it... well lets start with Saturday shall we?

My big little-man........ (drum roll please)........ rolled over!!!!! When he first did it, I didn't believe it was him... but when I thought about it, and realised that Dave wasn't even sitting next to him and I hadn't helped him... I was so excited that I kept popping him back on his tummy. After 4 rolls he was pretty over it and didn't want to be on his tummy any longer. But dare I say it...? I cried a little. Is there anything more precious than watching your child learn and grow right in front of your eyes?

Even have a short vid of him on the Sunday rolling over on camera... I would like to stress how hard this was to obtain. He is a poser and everytime he sees the camera, he stops what he is doing, stares at it and smiles. (Gorgeous, yes! But can get a little frustrating when you are trying to capture some video!) Anyway... here he is on the Sunday, ignore me talking... please? ;-)

And my other exciting news is that..... we finished the mural! Well except for the outlining and the eyes, but have to wait for it to dry before we did that, so will just leave it til Sunday this week (only real day we can do it) and will be completely finished then. Took us a while and a few inhaled paint fumes which gave me a killer headache when I stopped painting long enough to notice. It was raining so the room wasn't properly ventilated and Riley was with us, not at my mum and dad's (like we did last weekend to paint) so had the lounge room shut off, so couldn't even get any house-breathing-cross-breeze-flow going on. I was a little too excited about the painting that night...! Here is a pic of the room where we are up too now... you can't see the elephants trunk at the moment, and there are a few white spots from the wall, but will look great when we have outlined :-)

On that exciting note, I am now off to go climb under Riley's playgym with him and make some stupid faces in the mirror, just to hear him laugh :-)

The Jungle has Grass!

2010-06-20T19:51:00.002+12:00

Spent today painting Riley's bedroom and if I do say so myself... it's looking great!!!

Have made it to the 3rd stage out of 8 (background, foreground, foliage, giraffe, elephant, lion, bird and snake, outline) so next weekend we move onto the animals! I am so excited and can't wait until its finished!!

And here are some pics to have a squizz at!

Stage 1 (background)

Stage 2 (foreground)

Stage 3 (foliage)

The Sleeping Bag Saga...

2010-06-17T11:36:00.001+12:00

Well the last week I have been doing some research into baby merino sleeping bags. I am wanting to start a home based business type thing that I can do while looking after my little one... and also any excuse to dress him up and take pictures... well I'm there with bells on!

Have been asking alot of women about what they think of my ideas as during my reseach I have noticed something I could offer that I haven't found in other sleeping bags yet... so fingers crossed it goes as well as I hope. At the very least I might get a bit of pocket money for mine and Rileys clothes as we need them so we don't have to be short one week when he grows out of yet another set.

On that note also, I have been looking at bibs and blankets as those would be quick enough to just whip together, and might be a good place to start until I have some money to get some sleeping bags made... Pre-selling might be an idea, but then again, if something happens and I'm unable to get it done, well that would suck for me and my customer...

The ideas flow and the thinking peaks and the designs continue... watch this space

Its a Jungle in there!

2010-06-13T20:45:00.002+12:00

Well when we found out we were having a boy we began thinking about his bedroom and how we should paint it.

Personally I found plain walls, wall stickers, borders, wall hangings/paintings a bit boring and mainstream and too generic... so I am very glad I have an artistic man and he agreed that it would be an awesome idea to paint 3 walls I none colour and paint the entire 4th wall as a mural - feature wall.

We found the perfect picture through a google search and have gone with a cartoon styled drawing of a group of jungle animals. In the background we have a few vines and a (palm?) tree... in the foreground there is an elephant, a lion (not eating the elephant, that would make for an interesting childrens room mural!), a giraffe, snake and bird.

So far we have completely painted the 3 plain walls and the background of the mural. Over next to the door by the light switch, we are going to do a tall giraffes neck and head as a growth chart. We decided on a mural, because it will still be easy (ish) enough to repaint it when he decides he doesn't like jungle animals.

Dave has already been talking about painting the entire room in Manchester United theme.... it would be nice if he talked about changing it AFTER we have finished... but what do you expect? Luckily we both love painting rooms/houses so neither of us sees it as a chore. And we also love our own types of painting... he loves cutting in and doing all the fancy pants "neat edges" and I love getting a huge paintbrush and painting what I describe as "demolition painting" where you just attack the wall and get the paint on there. So glad we work well as a team and don't tread on each other's toes.

Cant wait until its finished!!! Riley is 3 months old now and we only started the mural today... woops!

Photos to come! (When we finish hehe)

People of Mention

2010-05-26T21:22:00.001+12:00

I would just like to send out a huge thanks to a few people who really made a difference and helped me above and beyond what I ever expected.

First and foremost - Dave my partner and father to Riley. Stood beside me 100% with all the decisions I made, was there everyday I was in hospital and even spent a few nights on that really uncomfortable chair.

Heather my LMC - with me from the start, never made me feel like I had the "first mum" jitters and respected every call I made to her and niggle I had. But never babyed me and gave it to me straight. Sincerely hope she is available when we try for another baby.

Adrienne my back-up MW - is a wonderful lady who again didnt baby me and was always there when Heather wasn't available

Jane my student MW - was only with me for a couple of months at the end and the first 6 weeks after the birth, but when i hit my 3-4day blues and didnt want to see anyone except Dave and Heather, made a quick trip and dropped me off slice and a couple of magazines. Will be forever grateful for that and no matter how much I consider us friends now I love that you didnt stick around when i didn't want visitors ;-)

Sandra my aunty who was in fact down from Wellington for a visit where she works as a NICU nurse. she helped me over her visit with breastfeeding and even sat there for an entire feed holding Riley to me to ensure he had a good latch. Brought us formula when I rang and asked and never once worried that she was on holiday and was meant to have a break ;-) if you can visit the NZ neonatal website to support the cause or even just to have a read about. I have a friend who's son was born at 24+5 and who is now just over 6 months old.. his blog can be seen here

All the ladies on OHbaby! with special mention to the due in March 2010 ladies. Without all of you there is no way I would have gotten through my pregnancy, hospital stay, decision to FF and weeks so far at home. Thank you Thank you Thank you. I love you all :-)

And of course without a doubt my family and my partners family. Without all of you these 11 weeks so far would have been very bleak indeed.

So a HUGE thank you goes out to everyone and i'm sorry if I missed anyone!

Pain, Pride, PND

2010-05-24T23:23:00.001+12:00

Well my days in hospital ranged from morphine-induced happy time, to exhaustion, despair, love, happiness and the beginnings of PND. (Post-Natal Depression). I have a history of depression, and it is a part of my immediate and extended family, which made it possible for me to see it in myself and know that the hole I was slowly sinking into would swallow me whole if I didnt get help.

Hospital - Day 1. Went to hospital and arrived at 7am on the dot... having not being able to eat since midnight the night before (and was in bed by 9pm... so this made it 10 hours without food... not normally a problem... but being preggy and knowing that you are not allowed to each is a torture all in its own ;-) was lined up to be the first C-Section of the morning... then got bumped to 2nd, then to 3rd.... and of course I wasn't allowed to eat... so 14 hours without food.... then went in for the surgery... Riley was born at 11.29am on Thursday 11th March. Weighing a healthy 8lb 9oz (3.905kg). Got wheeled back into recovery and wasnt allowed to eat until I had passed wind or "gone to the toilet" to ensure that everything was still working.... well I didnt appreciate that... and got served pretty quickly after the surgery... after all the family left :D Can't remember how many times Riley woke during the night. and all my BFing had to be done lying down... which is hard enough to get the hang of when you're a seasoned feeder (i've been told) and I had nothing to compare it to... so I had no idea if I was doing it right or not..

Day 2. Can't remember. was BFing, but again didnt know if I was doing it right or not.

Day 3. Can't remember. but I do know it was about this time that i started to crack and bleed, and I simply associated it with "getting used" to BFing...

Day 4. By this stage feeding was so painful that i physically couldnt hold my son because I would be having convulsive shakes and bawling my eyes out in excruitiating pain, and would have to get a midwife, nurse or lactation consultant to hold him to me while I clenched my hands and gouged at my palms. Halfway through this day, it wa suggested to me, and we decided to try expressing and finger feeding Riley to give me a chance to heal a bit. (no amount of Lansinoh was helping) which involved pumping, then taping a tube to your finger and the other end connected to a syringe, then pouring the EBM into the syringe and letting him suck on your finger for the EBM. Doing this messed with my head in so many ways. Relief that I didnt have to suffer through the bleeding and the convulsive shaking, but utter disappointment in myself that it wasn't working for us they way that I expected.

Day 5. Finger Fed through tears as all I wanted to do was BF and "be a mum" and be able to do what our bodies were designed for.

Night of Day 5. Dave and I had a long intense talk about bottle feeding EBM, FF and trying to BF. By this stage i was so deeply down the rabbit hole that I knew if i kept going the way I was - one day at a time, always waiting... waiting to heal, waiting for the next feed with gritted teeth, waiting for things to get better - then I would just keep sinking down into myself and very likely not be able to come out of it on my own, or with any amount of help. It was at this point that I realised how lucky I was that I was able to recognise my own warning signs. I thought long and hard that night, pros vs cons, my health and happiness, Daves health and happiness (i have never seen a man so upset as he did when i was in the throes of a pain convulsion) That night I made my decision.

Day 6. Discharge day. After having made a certain decision and put my own plan in place (albeit in my head) I felt so much better and happier. I had decided to switch to Formula, but express as long as possible. after days of lactation consultants, my midwife and nurses/midwives on duty on the ward, I didnt feel like I was gettin anywhere and could not see a light at the end of the tunnel. When my midwife came to see me before being discharged, I informed her of my decision, which she supported, but then suggested another alternative. nipple shields. Which i tried before we left the hospital. and they worked. was still painful, but i could hold Riley there myself, so I decided to give it one more shot.

At home. We used them for a few days and they were working great, I was even healing, slowly, but I was... we tried BFing again without the shields, and he seemed to be doing great. but was still loosing weight. at his lowest point he had lost approx 12% of his birth weight. I was cracking and bleeding again. I was sinking again. Nothing I was doing was working and my poor boy was not getting fed properly, was sleeping all the time and lost all his chubb.

My midwife and I came up with another plan of action. pump and bottle feed exclusively (no BF at all) until i was completely healed with formula top ups so he could get back to his birth weight. One pump hire later and we were in business. After 2 weeks of this he was regaining his chubb and I was healing. When I was back to 100% I wanted to try BFing again. (I still didnt feel like "a mum" because I wasn't BFing) but I noticed after a week of this that at every feed it was the last thing I wanted to do... I would give him his dummy first to try and keep him quiet and not want a feed, but in the end I would have to feed him, and by this stage he was so worked up and hungry that he would not feed properly, scream, cry and fill up with wind. Which obviously didn't help the situation.

By the time my 6 week midwife discharge visit arrived, I knew that BFing was not something I wanted to continue with Riley, because I believe it is a beautiful and natural thing, but I was resenting the situation, and I didnt want the resentment to turn towards my son or BFing in general. I would love to try again with our next child when we have another. I knew though, that if I kept going, I would not even want to attempt BFing for fear of history repeating itself. It took me a long time to come to terms with the fact that BFing just didnt work for us, especially with so many people BFing around me, and such a pro-BFing environment...

But the main thought that has kept me sane, happy and willing to try again is this...

Children rememebr the love you have for them, give them and show them... They don't care where their food comes from, as long as they are fed, comfortable and safe with you.

and on that note I leave you with some of my favourite pics of those hard, hard, hard weeks that really kept me going :-)

In the hospital

11 days old (at home)

2w 6d old

playtime with dad

Real Love, Real Mess

How exciting!!!

2010-05-23T21:41:00.004+12:00

As I sit here on the couch watching Monty Python's Almost The Truth, waiting for my man to cook dinner... it occurs to me that I could be spending some time taking account of my life as a new mum, and my sons life as a new human. Because let's face it, I cant even remember if I ate breakfast and it would be nice if I have a record of what happens in my life, so that when Dave (my partner and father of my child) and/or Riley (our son... born March 11, 2010 - currently 10 1/2 weeks old) come to me further down the track... I would like to have proof that I'm right.

To get the ball rolling, a few facts about how our son came into the world, because this blog is about being a mum first, homemaker second. If my son only knows one thing in this world, I want it to be that he is the most important aspect of my life, and the dishes can wait until after he has shown my his latest drawing and told me about his day.

He was a footling breech position from 19weeks. He was head down for a total of about 10 days, and decided that positioning himself to look like a russian Cossack dancer was so much more comfortable.

Was born via C-Section on 11th March, 2010 at 11.29am. everything went perfectly and when he came out and the nurse took him to the side to suction his lungs (as you have to with a CS baby due to them not going through the birthing process and everything associated with it) he managed to pee all over the nurse and Dave. In recovery for 45 mins and had his first breastfeed, then through to my room on the ward where my mum had left work and was waiting... (as the assistant manager i found this even funnier)

To be perfectly honest... the first 24-48 hours i have almost no recollection of... mostly due to the pain medication and being in a permanent out-of-it state. There were some very proud grandparents, aunties and uncles who lovingly didnt turn up all day everyday. And for that I will be forever grateful. 6 days in hospital (due to BFing problems) and finally got to go home. Don't remember much of that either.

When I come back in the morning I will make a quick post (ahaha yeah... quick short post... hmmm) about the first 10 weeks and will take it from there.

Don't shake your head. If you made it this far down the entry I know you must be somewhat interested =D

Dave and Riley after he got peed on

an hour old. first family photo

with the BFing problems I had to express and we had to finger feed.